Hollow tapered ski pole terminating in an integral point



p 1965 R. J. MCDONALD 3,204,974

HOLLOW TAPERED SKI POLE TERMINATING IN AN INTEGRAL POINT Filed April 4, 1963 L l6 INVENTOR.

ROBfRT J. M C DONAL D r14 BY QM United States Patent 3,204,974 HOLLOW TAPERE'D SKI POLE TERMINATING IN AN INTEGRAL POINT Robert J. McDonald, 3229 Ardley Ave., Oakland, Calif. Filed Apr. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 270,590 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-1137) The present invention relates to improvements in a ski pole, and'more particularly to improvements in a ski pole constructed with a hollow metal shaft.

Recently, considerable effort has been expended in the direction of improving slci poles so as to provide poles more suitable for racing or standard ski maneuvers. It has been found, that relatively minor changes in the weight characteristics of the pole, rigidity, and flexural strength are of considerable importance to the sportsman. Accordingly, considerable effort has been made to design improvements in the pole without adversely affecting the basic requirements thereof.

For example, an improved ski pole construction comprising a hollow tapered shaft is described in United States Patent 3,076,663 of Edward L. Scott. The present invention is particularly valuable as an improvement to this patented ski pole construction, but it will be understood that the present invention provides general improvement to any ski pole constructed with a hollow shaft.

As shown in the patent cited above, it was customary heretofore to equip the ski pole with a pointed end by inserting a plug or similar structure into the hollow end. While this construction is generally suitable to provide the necessary closed point for the hollow shaft, it has been found that an improved point is obtained by forming the hollow shaft so :as to contain an integral closed point. This results in improved weight characteristics and avoids the possibility of the tip becoming dislodged from the pole. Moreover, the integral point construction affords increased strength at the end of the shaft by eliminating the weakness inherent in the joint of two difierent pieces of material.

Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide a ski pole construction which contains a minimum of parts and has improved weight characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski pole having a hollow metal shaft which is formed into an integral point at one end to provide a unitary point having improved strength characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ski pole having a hollow shaft with an integral point in which the point structure is tempered to provide an especially hard point.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a ski pole of the character described constructed with a tapered steel shaft having increasing wall thickness as the shaft diameter decreases which terminates in an integral point.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the specification progresses, and the new and useful features of my ski pole will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

It has been found that the desired integral point may be provided on a hollow metal shaft simply by cold working or swaging the shaft at the end thereof until the metal is compressed together to eliminate the hollow portion and form a pointed end.

It has also been found that steel is particularly valuable for working in this manner and that integral points actually constructed by swaging are satisfactory and retain their shape under ordinary service by skiers. Steel is also easily heat treated or carbonized at the point to ice provide the desired hardness at the point while retaining the proper flexibility and toughness in the shaft.

One of the reasons that plugged points have been used heretofore is for the purpose of providing a point which is extremely hard so as to be resistant to nicks or cu-ts which might otherwise result as the pointed end of the pole strikes rocks or other hard materials during service. Accordingly, by using two different materials for the shaft and point, it was possible to provide the best characteristics in both ends. However, I have found that by using a hollow steel shaft, the point may be selectively tempered to give the necessary hardness without altering the characteristics of the shaft. This tempering may be carried out by any known means for heat treating metal such as carbonizing and standard heating and quenching or annealing treatments. It is also possible to completely eliminate any trace of the hollow center at the point, if desired, by heating the point in an amount sufiicient to provide molecular cohesion. This heating may be used to prepare the point for quenching.

As indicated above, a'preferred form of the invention resides in the use of a pole containing a hollow shaft having a gradual inward taper extending over the major portion of the shaft and having increased wall thicknesses of the shaft as the outside diameter decreases. Such a structure provides the advantages described in the Scott patent cited a bove in combination with the improved point structure disclosed herein.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical ski pole constructed according to the invention; and

FIGURE 2, an enlarged view of the end section containing the point of the ski pole of FIGURE 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a ski pole 11 comprising an elongated hollow shaft 12, a handle 13 at one end of the shaft, a point 14 at the other end of the shaft, and a snowengaging member 16 near the pointed end of shaft 12. As here shown, the hollow shaft 12 is gradually tapered inwardly from the handle and toward the pointed end, and the shaft is also constructed with increasing wall thicknesses toward the lower end as the diameter of the shaft decreases.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the point 14 is constructed integral with the shaft 12 and contains a solid end section 17 terminating in a pointed tip 18. As there shown, the walls 19 of shaft 12 become thicker as the tip end is approached until finally the hollow 21 terminates at 22. When the point 14 is swaged onto the end of the hollow tapered shaft, the metal is shaped in such a way that these walls 19 are enlarged. In this way an especially strong pointed end is obtained. As mentioned above, this pointed end is preferably heat treated or otherwise processed to provide the desired strength characteristics therein.

Thus the hollow shaft has the metal distributed in such a way that the maximum strength is obtained with a minimum of metal. The wide upper portion of the tube is stiffened to minimize whip, the lower portion has enlarged walls to resist denting and the point is on a hardened solid section to resist hammer-like blows and scratching.

The handle 13 may be any known handle structure such as that shown in the drawing. As here shown, handle 13 contains rubber grip 23 and leather thongs 24.

Patented Sept. 7, 1965 Similarly, the snow-engaging member 16 may be constructed in any known manner. As here shown, a typical snow-engaging member includes a metal ring 26 held by a rubber Wheel 27 having a hub 28. Preferably, the hub 28 is stretched over the tapered shaft 12 and held in place by the elastic forces of the rubber grip. A typical example of this snow-engaging member is described and claimed in my co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 84,831 filed January 25, 1961 and entitled Ski Pole Rings.

It has been found that the use of the integral point eliminates the need for an additional part, yet provides the desired weight characteristics at the end of the ski pole. In addition, the elimination of this part allows simpler fabrication and maintenance of the shaft.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that I have provided an improved shaft for ski poles having an integral point in which the distribution of the metal in the shaft and point and the special fabrication thereof gives a ski pole having an especially strong point capable of long and satisfactory service under severe conditions.

I claim:

1. In a ski pole, an elongated hollow steel shaft having a gradual inward taper extending over the major portion of the shaft and terminating in an integral point at one 25 end, the wall thickness of the shaft being larger as the diameter of the shaft is reduced along the taper with the hollow portion of the shaft terminating short of the pointed end thereof, said pointed end being substantially harder than the hollow shaft.

2. A ski pole, comprising an elongated hollow steel shaft, a handle mounted at one end of said shaft, and a snow-engaging member, said hollow steel shaft being formed with a gradual inward taper extending over a major portion of the handle and terminating in a closed integral point at the end opposite the handle portion, the wall thickness of the shaft being larger as the diameter of the shaft is reduced alOng the taper with the hollow portion of the shaft terminating short of the pointed end thereof to provide a substantially solid section at the pointed end of the shaft.

3. The ski pole defined in claim 2, in which the solid section at the pointed end of the shaft is hardened by means of carbonization and heat treatment.

4. In a ski pole, an elongated hollow steel shaft having a gradual inward taper extending over the major portion of the shaft and terminating in an integral point at one end, the wall thickness of the shaft being larger as the diameter of the shaft is reduced along the taper with the hollow portion of the shaft terminating short of the pointed end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,526 7/89 Lorenz 294-61 X 3,076,663 2/63 Scott 28011.37

FOREIGN PATENTS 112,225 2/26 Switzerland. 527,678 10/40 Great Britain. 987,257 8/51 France.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN A SKI POLE, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW STEEL SHAFT HAVING A GRADUAL INWARD TAPER EXTENDING OVER THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE SHAFT AND TERMINATING IN AN INTEGRAL POINT AT ONE END, THE WALL THICKNESS OF THE SHAFT BEING LARGER AS THE DIAMETER OF THE SHAFT IS REDUCED ALONG THE TAPER 